Contax N Digital

Discuss non-DSLR models (e.g. Coolpix cameras), other camera brands, your latest cool photography gadget, computer stuff and other photography related issues that don't fit in the Vintage Kodak and Nikon DSLR forums.
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Paps
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:00 pm
Location: PARIS, France

Contax N Digital

Post by Paps »

My old Kodak DCS and Nikon bodies have found some new friends : I got 3 Contax N digital, but without user's guide. So, I'm wondering whether some of you who are also collecting digital Slrs could have one in PDF format.

Roughly speaking, it's quite easy to use, but there are some functions that are not totally clear to me.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Paps
Anssi Krooks
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:45 pm
Location: Espoo, Finland
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Post by Anssi Krooks »

Wow! This could be one of the rarest digital bodies produced in the 2000's. Has anyone idea how much these were manufactured? Could you share some photos taken with them? The idea of 6 megapix and full frame in todays sensortechnology would mean very little noise (and massive moire). It's a pity that megapixels are only thing that matters these days....
D1X, DCS PRO SLR/n, DCS 760, DCS 420c & Canon Pro70
Paps
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:00 pm
Location: PARIS, France

Contax N Digital production

Post by Paps »

I've no idea of how many were produced. The highest serial N° I got is 2747. For sure, it's quite rare, we don't see many on e-Bay and they are usually sold in private auctions.

In fact I bought a lot of 4 bodies that were sold for parts by an ex-Contax specialist in Paris, but they all work under certain condition. The main problem seems that they use a lot of battery, which means that I'm testing them with an AC power cord. As I just got my first lens (Zeiss Planar 50 mm f 1.4) last week-end, I had no time to make real tests. I'll try to post some samples.

Concerning the noise, that was the main reproach made to this camera : at the time it came to the market, the Philips sensor was already outdated and this camera was surpassed by the Canon EOS 1DS at a comparable price, which explains that only few were sold.
spreefurt
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:02 pm
Location: Germany

Re: Contax N Digital production

Post by spreefurt »

Paps wrote:I've no idea of how many were produced. The highest serial N° I got is 2747. For sure, it's quite rare, we don't see many on e-Bay and they are usually sold in private auctions.
It is not one of the rarest, but it is unknown, how many have been withdrawn and destroyed by Kyocera in case of complaints.
Paps wrote:In fact I bought a lot of 4 bodies that were sold for parts by an ex-Contax specialist in Paris, but they all work under certain condition. The main problem seems that they use a lot of battery, which means that I'm testing them with an AC power cord. As I just got my first lens (Zeiss Planar 50 mm f 1.4) last week-end, I had no time to make real tests. I'll try to post some samples.
If they seem to work, but were sold "for parts", I would expect, that these cameras will be objected by the defect with the red line. This defect occurs only when using the RAW format - but the RAW format is the only way to receive usable quality of the pictures.
Paps wrote:Concerning the noise, that was the main reproach made to this camera : at the time it came to the market, the Philips sensor was already outdated and this camera was surpassed by the Canon EOS 1DS at a comparable price, which explains that only few were sold.
The noise is not worse than that of the Kodak DCS 760.

As far as I know, the manual is not available as PDF. But the manual can be bought at Foto-Huppert, a former Contax specialist.
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